Lubricant stick



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P. STRUGHOLD El' AL Marh 18, 1 952 LUBRICANT STICK Filed Aug. 12, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 I INVENTORS 29e er S'ruyzoZc BY JPM@ y y ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 18,A 19.52

OFFICE LUBRICANT s'rIcK Peter Strughold, Lemay, and Joseph 'F.'May, St. Louis, Mo.

--Application August 12, 1949, Serial No. 109,834

Claims. (Cl. 252-12) This invention relates to a wheel flange lubricating brush or stick, and is a continuation-inpart of our copending application Serial Num,- ber 783,062, filed October 30, 1947. now abandoned, for Car Wheel Lubricators.

An object of this invention .is to provide an improved dry lubricant stick for car wheel flanges, which includes, talc, soapstone, plumbago or amorphous graphite either singly or in `combination, witha Bakelite binder which is supported in position to engage the wheel flange.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dry lubricant, which will cling to the wheel flange so as to prevent undue wear on the ange when the car is on a curve and also prevent undue Wear on the head of the rail.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dry lubricant, so as to eliminate the serious objections to bonds, such as grease, oils, rosins or the like which `liquify under frictional heat. For instance car wheel lubricators are separated from the sanding jets by a distance of a few feet or inches. When the rails are sanded for traction, this greasy, oily or ygluey surface of the ange offers a ready and inviting binding agent for this sand. Thus while giving lubrication, grease, rosin, gums defeat the very purpose of the lubricating device by increasing Wear. Clay as a binder is also .not used because it also is an abrasive and has .no clinging ability.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved dry lubricant, block, brush or stick for use with a novel, simple design, rugged and easily maintained spring pressed holder, which embodies in one vform thereof a Bakelite bonded dry body of talc and/or soapstone and/or plumbago, amorphous graphite or other dry lubricant.

A further object oi this invention is to provide an improved lubricant, brush, block or stick formed of Bakelite binder and a dry lubricant, such as talc, soapstone, -plumbago, or amorphous graphite or equivalants either singly or in -combination of such great mechanical strength as to be practically self-supporting, capable of holding the lubricant in constant forcible contact with the flange and to eliminate the need of delicate and elaborately designed holders VVand lubricators.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved dry lubricant brush, block or stick formed of a Bakelite binder and a dry lubricant such as talc, soapstone, plumbago, or amorphous graphite either singly or in combination, which is of great heat, cold, acid, alkali, rain, snow and impact resisting qualities.

temporary A .further object of this invention is to provide an improved dry lubricant block of sufficient mechanical strength to eliminate 'the need of supporting lead or other cores, cases or shells.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved dry lubricant stick formed of inexpensive materials with corresponding low cost benefits to the railroads.

With the above and other objects in view, our invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specication, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a wheel lubricating means constructed according to an embodiment of this invention, showing the device in applied position with respect to a car wheel.

Figure 2 is a detailed side elevation of the holder for the lubricant.

Figure 3 is a detailed plan View, partly broken away and in section, of the holder.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view-taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the lubricant stick having a polygonal configuration in cross section.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a round lubricant stick.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral I0 designates generally a car wheel which includes a rim II and a flange I2. In order to provide a means whereby the flange I2 and the outer portion of the rim I I may be lubricated by means of la dry lubricant, We have provided a lubricant stick generally designated as I4. The stick I4 is mounted in a substantially tubular holder I 5 which includes' a 'pair of rearwardly extending ears I6 which are secured to a supporting bar vIl byfastening means I8. The tubular holder I5 is Vformed with an elongated slot or opening 'I9 in one side thereof and a follower 20 loosely engages through the opening I9 and is adapted to press on the upper end of the lubricant stick I4,

The follower 20 is carried yby an elongated angled armor lever 2| which is pivotally mounted on 'a 'bolt 22 extending through the supporting bar I'I. A spring 23 constantly urges the bar or lever 2| downwardly so as to constantly press against the lubricant member I4 and hold this member in contacting relation with the flange and outer portion of the wheel rim. The supporting bar Il is secured at its outer end to a twisted bar 24 which is xed by fastening means 25 to a suitable part 26 of the truck framel The twisted supporting bar 2-4 is adapted to maintainthe holder I in the desired angular relation with respect to the ange I2 so that the lubricant I4 will maintain the flange in the desired condition.

The lubricant member I4 has a configuration coincident with the shape of the holder I5. This holder I5 may be either polygonal, or round or oval in cross section, and as shown in Figures 5 and 6 the lubricant members I4 and I4a Will be molded either polygonal as shown in Figure 5 or round as shown in Figure 6. The exact shape of the lubricant member I4 is not important, whereas the material of .which the lubricant member is composed is important.

In general the lubricant member I4 is formedv asfollows:

Y Per cent Dry lubricant 80 to 90 Bakelite binder 20 to 10 The dry lubricant referred to consists of soapstone, graphite or amorphous graphite either singly or in combination. By use of the term Bakelite We refer to a conventional synthetic resin formed by the condensation of phenols and formaldehyde; for example, approximately 94.5% phenols or equivalents, .5% household ammonia, and 5% formaldehyde (35 U. S. P.) combined to provide a thermosetting cementitious substance. In the selection of a dry lubricant as set forth we have found that a relatively coarse amorphous graphite of approximately 140-145 mesh screen gives the best results and is preferable Vover ake graphite for the reason that ake graphite will not readily adhere to a revolving locomotive wheel. The ingredients are mixed thoroughly and then molded under pressure of 15,000 lbs. at a minimum temperature of 250 F. The temperature may vary from 250 to 450 F., the higher temperatures requiring proportionately less time to form the stick. At minimum temperature of 250 F. the time is at least three hours.

While a generally satisfactory lubricating member can be attained when constructed according to the above general specifications we have found that a more serviceable stick for certain types of service will result when formed in accordance with the following examples in which amorphous graphite in specic quantities is used.

One example of a specific composition of a stick for lubricating the flanges of a high-speed locomotive used to draw trains in main line service Where structural strength requirements of the lubricant stick would be high is:

Another example of the composition for use on low-speed locomotives used in yard service involving operation over a large number of switches and around numerous curves where the requirements for lubrication are greater is:

In forming a lubricant member for use on a locomotive used in general service we use a composition of Per cent Amorphous graphite 85 Bakelite binder 15 The formed stick I4 will be relatively hard and strong, and will stand up under heat and frictional wear for a relatively long period of time, while at the same time providing a non-flowing lubricant film on the wheel ange which will prevent undue wear on the wheel and on the rail head.

We do not mean to conne ourselves to the exact details of construction herein disclosed but claim all variations falling within the purview of the appended claims.

What We claim is: v

1. A heat resistant solid composition combined of to 90% amorphous graphite and 20 to 10% bakelite combined under heat at a temperature of at least 250 Fahrenheit and pressure of at least 15,000 pounds per square inch for a period of approximately three hours to form a linear member for engagement with the flange of a locomotive Wheel to effect a non-liquefying lubricating coating thereon.

2. A car wheel lubricating element in solid stick form element comprised of Afrom 80% to 90% graphite intermixed with a bakelite binder.

3. A heat resistant car wheel lubricating element in solid stick form comprising the combination of approximately 80% amorphous graphite and 20% bakelite binder.

4. A heat resistant car Wheel lubricating element in solid stick form comprising the combination of approximately amorphous graphite and 15% bakelite binder.

5. A heat resistant car wheel lubricating element in solid stick form comprising the combination of approximately amorphous graphite and 10% bakelite binder.

PETER STRUGHOLD. JOSEPH F. MAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Dec. 6, 1944 

1. A HEAT RESISTANT SOLID COMPOSITION COMBINED OF 80 TO 90% AMORPHOUS GRAPHITE AND 20 TO 10% "BAKELITE" COMBINED UNDER HEAT AT A TEMPERA-TURE OF AT LEAST 250* FAHRENHEIT AND PRESSURE OF AT LEAST 15,000 POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH FOR A PERIOD OF APPROXIMATELY THREE HOURS TO FORM A LINEAR MEMBER FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE FLANGE OF A LOCOMOTIVE WHEEL TO EFFECT A NON-LIQUEFYING LUBRICATING COATING THEREON. 